A Study Of Eugenics Movement In The United States During The First Half Of The 20^thcentury

At the turn of the 20 th century,a series of social problems arose in the UK.The biologist Francis Galton founded "Eugenics",emphasizing the decisive role of genetics in the development of human society,requiring the use of social interventions to improve the quality and efficiency of citizens through eugenics.At the same time,the United States also faced almost the same social problems.Eugenics was introduced into the United States by American intellectuals and soon put down some roots.Since the 20 th century,under the guidance of eugenics,American eugenics scholars has set off a eugenics campaign to promote the knowledge of eugenics,formulate and implement eugenic measures,and thus improve the race.This article is divided into five chapters,the main contents are as follows:Chapter 1 mainly introduces the background reasons of the rise of the eugenics movement in America.Firstly,it introduces the theoretical basis of the rise of eugenics movement.In 1883,Galton founded eugenics,and the United States faced a social environment that was almost as complicated as that of the Britain.In 1899,Charles Davenport,the pioneer of the American eugenics movement,introduced eugenics into the United States,laying a theoretical foundation for the American eugenics movement.Secondly,the eugenics thought of C hristianity and the popular social trends —— "the Social Darwinism" and "the social efficiency" played a leading role in America.Thirdly,the "white racial superiority theory" and racial instability caused by new immigrants,Indians,and blacks have deepened the racial gap in the United States and provided soil for the eugenics movement.In the end,the eugenics movement has provided a antidote for the alarming social situation in the United States,and it has natural y been welcomed by people.Chapter 2 mainly introduces the specific development of the eugenics movement in the United States.This paper begins with the eugenics thought,focusing on the functions of several major eugenics organizatio ns during the eugenics movement,as well as the eugenics works of several eugenics leaders.Under the guidance of these eugenic thoughts,the American eugenics movement began along two main lines.At the national level,eugenics scholars advocated to restrict immigrants from entering the United States by screening for immigration defects.The US government,which has been troubled by immigrants,listened to the opinions of eugenics and issued a number of laws to restrict immigration.At the local level,eugenics scholars mainly adopt negative eugenic methods such as forced sterilization and marriage restrictions,as well as positive eugenic measures such as eugenic publicity and education and marriage counseling.Chapter 3 mainly introduces the decline of the American eugenics movement.Since the rise of the eugenics movement in the United States,it has been widely supported by American people,but there are also many voices of opposition.The opposition to the American eugenics movement focused on the three issues of genetics and the environment,forced sterilization and human rights.In addition to the influence of its opponents,the eugenics movement's decline was due to its own success and to the unprofessionalism of the eugenics scholars.In addition,the American eugenics community was closely connected with the Nazi German ethnic health movement,which caused suspicion and dissatisfaction in American society.In the 1940 s,the American eugenics movement gradually declined.Chapter 4 mainly introduces the influence of the American eugenics movement.The eugenics movement influenced the formulation of American social policies,influenced the construction of the welfare state,and promoted each other with the American civil rights movement,and also spread to Japan,Germany and other countries.Thus,it had a wide and far-reaching influence on American society and other countries.